Protective wear closure system

ABSTRACT

An article of protective wear such as a boot (10) includes a flexible shell (14) with an opening (16) extending between two parts (20, 22) of the shell that (14) can move relative to each other to open or close the opening (16). The boot (10) has one or more releasable closure elements (24) for holding the first and second parts (20, 22) closed and a mechanical tightening mechanism (28, 30) that allows tightening of the first and second parts (20, 22), but resists separation between them. The boot (10) also includes a one-way hook-and-loop fastening system (38, 40) attached to the first and second parts (20, 22) that is configured to resist relative sliding between the first and second parts (20, 22) to a looser condition, but to allow relative sliding between the first and second parts (20, 22) to a tighter condition.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to closure systems for protective wear such asboots for use in activities such as motorcycling, in which theprotective wear needs to be closed conveniently, but securely.

The invention is described with reference to protective wear in the formof boots, but it can be applied to various other forms of protectivewear, such as gloves, pads, and the like.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Protective footwear frequently needs to be closed around the foot, ankleand/or calf of a wearer, to secure two opposing parts of the footwear,together. Suitable closure systems include laces, zippers, buckles,hook-and-loop, etc. In some instances, different closure systems areused in combination, which could be to close different parts of thefootwear, e.g. if a part that seldom requires adjustment, is closed witha buckle and one that needs more frequent adjustment is closed withhook-and-loop fasteners. In other instances, different closure systemssupplement one another, e.g. hook-and-loop fasteners could serve to holdparts of the footwear in position before they are attached more securelywith other fasteners, or could serve to provide a contiguous closure, inaddition to more secure closures such as buckles.

This invention is not limited to protective wear in the form of bootswhich are closed with a combination of hook-and-loop fasteners andbuckles, but is described herein with reference to such a form ofprotective wear, as a typical illustrative example. Motorcycling bootsare frequently closed on an outside (lateral aspect) with a number ofquick release, locking buckles, but in order to assist the wearer indonning the boot and in order to seal it more securely against dust andmud ingress, the upper end of the boot is often also held closed withhook-and-loop fasteners.

A problem often arises if two different closure systems are used on anitem of protective wear, if one closure system needs to be tightened,but the other closure system holds the opposing parts of the protectivewear in place and resists the closure. This typically occurs if theopposing parts of a motorcycle boot are closed with hook-and-loopfasteners in addition to tightening buckles. If the wearer wants totighten the buckles, the hook-and-loop fasteners resist the tightening,so the wearer has to release the buckles and the hook-and-loopfasteners, then re-close the hook-and-loop fasteners, before re-closingthe buckles and tightening them.

The same problem occurs if other protective wear includes mechanicaltightening mechanisms such as buckles, laces, ratchet mechanisms, etc.,in combination with hook-and-loop fasteners that supplement themechanical tightening mechanisms, but that can resist or frustratetightening of the mechanical tightening mechanisms if the hook-and-loopfasteners are engaged while the mechanical tightening mechanisms arebeing tightened.

The present invention seeks to allow for adjustment of a mechanicaltightening mechanism of a closure system on protective wear, while theprotective wear is kept closed with another closure system.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention there is provided an article ofprotective wear comprising a flexible shell that defines an openingextending between a first part of the shell and a second part of theshell, said first part and second part of the shell being movablerelative to each other between at least one open condition in which thefirst part and the second part are spaced apart, and a plurality ofclosed conditions in which the first part and the second part are closertogether than in the open condition, said closed conditions including atleast one looser closed condition and at least one tighter closedcondition in which the shell fits tighter around part of a wearer's bodythan in the looser closed condition, said article of protective wearfurther comprising:

-   -   at least one releasable closure element that is configured to        hold the first part and the second part of the shell in at least        one of the closed conditions, said closure element including a        mechanical tightening mechanism that is configured to resist        relative sliding between the first and second parts of the        shell, from the tighter closed condition to the looser closed        condition, but to allow tightening relative sliding between the        first and second parts of the shell from the looser closed        condition to the tighter closed condition; and    -   a hook-and-loop fastening system comprising complemental hook        formations and loop formations, attached to the first part and        second part of the shell, respectively, and being configured to        attach the first part and the second part of the shell together        releasably, by engagement of the hook formations and loop        formations of the first part and the second part of the shell,        to each other;    -   wherein the hook-and-loop fastening system is a one-way        hook-and-loop system, configured to resist relative sliding        between the first and second parts of the shell, from the        tighter closed condition to the looser closed condition, but to        allow relative sliding between the first and second parts of the        shell from the looser closed condition to the tighter closed        condition.

The hook formations may have free ends that extend away from theopening.

The mechanical tightening mechanism may include a ratchet mechanism thatis configured to resist relative sliding between the first and secondparts of the shell, from the tighter closed condition to the looserclosed condition, but to allow relative sliding between the first andsecond parts of the shell from the looser closed condition to thetighter closed condition, in ratchet-fashion.

The article of protective wear may be in the form of protective footwearwhich includes a sole attached to the shell and wherein the shell isconfigured to extend at least partly around the wearer's foot.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the present invention, and to show how itmay be carried into effect, the invention will now be described by wayof non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings inwhich:

FIG. 1 shows a side elevation from an outside or lateral side, of anarticle of protective wear according to the present invention, in theform of a motorcycling boot, in a closed condition;

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view from the top, front and outside, of theboot of FIG. 1 in an moderately open condition; and

FIG. 3 shows another perspective view from the top, front and outside,of the boot of FIG. 1 in a wide open condition.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring to the drawings, protective wear according to the presentinvention, in the form of a motorcycling boot, is identified generally,by reference sign 10.

The boot 10 includes a sole 12 and a shell or upper 14 that is made ofsuitably flexible materials, such as leather, fabric, plastics, etc., toextend around the foot and part of the lower leg of a wearer withsufficient flexibility to allow the boot to be opened and closed and toallow adequate foot movement and/or protection. The upper 14 defines anopening 16 on the outside, or lateral aspect of the boot 10 and a lowerpart of the opening is fitted with a flexible gaiter 18.

The upper 14 includes a first part in the form of a side panel 20 thatextends generally on the lateral aspect of the wearer's calf, and asecond part in the form of a front panel 22 that extends in front of thewearer's shin. The side panel 20 and front panel 22 are on oppositesides of the opening 16 and owing to the flexibility of the upper 14,the side panel and front panel can be flexed between various openconditions such as those shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, in which the side paneland front panel are far apart and a wearer can insert a foot into theboot 10, and various closed conditions, such as that shown in FIG. 1, inwhich the side panel and front panel are closer together and overlap.

Four releasable closure elements in the form of buckles 24 are providedon the side panel 20 and each of the buckles is a quick release, lockingbuckle that can engage with a buckle strap 26 that is attached to thefront panel 22. Each of the straps 26 is attached to the front panel 22by way of a strap holder 28 and has saw-tooth-profiled ratchet teeth 30so that each strap can be tightened in ratchet-fashion to operate as amechanical tightening mechanism of the boot. Further, each of thebuckles 24 includes a detent 32 that defines an aperture 34 in which ahead 36 of its corresponding strap 26 can be received. The detent 32 canpivot, preferably in over-centred fashion, between an open position inwhich the detent extends sideways from the boot 10 and a locked positon,in which the detent extends tightly against the boot and holds the strap26 in tension, to hold the side panel 20 and front panel 22 together ina closed condition.

The boot 10 includes a hook-and-loop fastening system comprising a looppad 38 with loop formations, on the upper inside of the front panel 22and a hook pad 40 with hook formations on the upper outside of the sidepanel 20. When the boot 10 is closed, the front panel 22 and side panel20 overlap at least partly and are brought in contact with each other,so that the loop pad 38 and hook pad 40 are in contact and thecomplemental loop formations and hook formations engage in hook-and-loopfashion, to keep the side panel and front panel close together and thuskeep the boot closed.

The hook formations of the hook pad 40 have free ends that extend awayfrom the opening 16, so that the interaction between the hook formationsand the loop formations of the loop pad 38 works in a ratchet fashion orone-way fashion. The hook formations and loop formations engage in thenormal manner, requiring significant force to remove the loop pad 38from the hook pad 40 and also preventing the loop pad from slidingrelative to the hook pad in all directions, except that the directionalorientation of the hook formations allows the loop pad 38 to slidebackwards relative to the hook pad, in other words from a looser closedposition to a tighter closed position in which the upper 14 fits tighteraround a wearer's foot than in the looser closed condition.

In use, when a wearer wants to don the boot 10, the buckles 24 areopened and the heads 36 of the straps 26 are released. The front panel22 is removed from the side panel 20 by manually releasing theengagement of the hook-and-loop formations on the hook pad 40 and looppad 30 and the front panel and side panel are moved apart by flexing theboot upper 14 to open up the opening 16. The wearer can now insert afoot into the boot 10 with relative ease, before closing the boot byflexing the side panel 20 and front panel 22 to their closed positions.

When the loop pad 38 makes contact with the hook pad 40, their hook andloop formations engage and hold the front panel 22 and side panel 20together in a looser closed condition. If the wearer wants to close theboot 10 more tightly, the hook-and-loop fastening system 38,40 does notneed to be released. Instead, the wearer can simply slide the frontpanel 22 further rearwards over the side panel 20, because the one-wayhook-and-loop engagement allows relative sliding between the front paneland side panel from the looser closed condition to a tighter closedcondition, while resisting sliding in the opposite direction.

Once the boot 10 has been closed with the hook-and-loop fastening system38,40 to a desired initial tightness, the buckles 24 are fastened bypassing the head 36 of each strap 26 through the aperture 34 andpivoting the detent 32 to its lock position.

Once the wearer's foot has been inserted into the open boot 10 and theboot is closed by moving the front panel 22 to overlap with the sidepanel 20, the hook-and-loop fastening system 38,40 can simply engage ina relatively loose closed condition and the boot can then be closedfurther by fastening the buckles 24, which serves as a mechanicaltightening mechanism and pulls the front panel 22 further rearwardsrelative to the side panel 20, towards a tighter closed condition, whilethe hook-and-loop fastening system permits this sliding movement andholds the panels in the tighter closed condition.

Further, instead of, or in addition to the tightening operationsdescribed above, once the boot 10 has been closed, the hook-and-loopfastening system 38,40 has been engaged and the buckles 24 fastened, theboot can be closed tighter, by shorting the straps 26 in a mechanicaltightening mechanism by ratchet-fashion engagement between their ratchetteeth 30 and their strap holders 28 and at the same time, the loop pad38 can slide rearwards relative to the hook pad 40, while resistingmovement in other directions. In other embodiments, similar mechanicaltightening mechanisms can be used, such as ratchet mechanisms inbuckles, tightening of tensile elements such as laces used instead ofbuckles, etc.

The principles embodied in the boot 10 are not limited to the positionsor structure of the panels 20,22 or the positions of the pads 38,40. Inother embodiments of the invention, the hook-and-loop fastening system38,40 can operate between two different parts of the boot upper 14 andthe positions of the hook formations and loop formations could beinverted or could even be combined, even with some hook and loopformations on the same part of the boot.

Also, the invention has been described above with reference toprotective wear in the form of boots 10, but the invention is notlimited to boots and can be applied to other forms of protective wearsuch as padding, body armour, gloves, or the like in which releasablemechanical tightening mechanisms are used to close a shell and arecombined with hook-and-loop mechanisms.

1. An article of protective wear comprising a flexible shell thatdefines an opening extending between a first part of the shell and asecond part of the shell, said first part and second part of the shellbeing movable relative to each other between at least one open conditionin which the first part and the second part are spaced apart, and aplurality of closed conditions in which the first part and the secondpart are closer together than in the open condition, said closedconditions including at least one looser closed condition and at leastone tighter closed condition in which the shell fits tighter around partof a wearer's body than in the looser closed condition, said article ofprotective wear further comprising: at least one releasable closureelement that is configured to hold the first part and the second part ofthe shell in at least one of the closed conditions, said closure elementincluding a mechanical tightening mechanism that is configured to resistrelative sliding between the first and second parts of the shell, fromthe tighter closed condition to the looser closed condition, but toallow tightening relative sliding between the first and second parts ofthe shell from the looser closed condition to the tighter closedcondition; and hook-and-loop fastening system comprising complementalhook formations and loop formations, attached to the first part andsecond part of the shell, respectively, and being configured to attachthe first part and the second part of the shell together releasably, byengagement of the hook formations and loop formations of the first partand the second part of the shell, to each other; wherein thehook-and-loop fastening system is a one-way hook-and-loop system,configured to resist relative sliding between the first and second partsof the shell, from the tighter closed condition to the looser closedcondition, but to allow relative sliding between the first and secondparts of the shell from the looser closed condition to the tighterclosed condition.
 2. The article of protective wear according to claim1, wherein the hook formations have free ends that extend away from theopening.
 3. The article of protective wear according to claim 1, whereinthe mechanical tightening mechanism includes a ratchet mechanism that isconfigured to resist relative sliding between the first and second partsof the shell, from the tighter closed condition to the looser closedcondition, but to allow relative sliding between the first and secondparts of the shell from the looser closed condition to the tighterclosed condition, in ratchet-fashion.
 4. The article of protective wearaccording to claim 1, wherein the article of protective wear is in theform of protective footwear which includes a sole attached to the shelland wherein the shell is configured to extend at least partly around thewearer's foot.
 5. The article of protective wear according to claim 2,wherein the mechanical tightening mechanism includes a ratchet mechanismthat is configured to resist relative sliding between the first andsecond parts of the shell, from the tighter closed condition to thelooser closed condition, but to allow relative sliding between the firstand second parts of the shell from the looser closed condition to thetighter closed condition, in ratchet-fashion.
 6. The article ofprotective wear according to claim 2, wherein the article of protectivewear is in the form of protective footwear which includes a soleattached to the shell and wherein the shell is configured to extend atleast partly around the wearer's foot.
 7. The article of protective wearaccording to claim 3, wherein the article of protective wear is in theform of protective footwear which includes a sole attached to the shelland wherein the shell is configured to extend at least partly around thewearer's foot.